Exams and Tests

The health care provider will base the diagnosis on symptoms. The provider will evaluate how your skin looks after you have taken certain medicines or are exposed to a foreign substance (antigen).

Results from an ESR test (erythrocyte sedimentation rate test) may be high.

Skin biopsy shows inflammation of the small blood vessels. You may also have other tests to detect this condition.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to reduce inflammation.

Your provider may prescribe aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or corticosteroids to reduce inflammation of the blood vessels. (DO NOT give aspirin to children except as advised by your provider).

Your provider will tell you to stop taking medicines that could be causing this condition.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Hypersensitivity vasculitis most often goes away over time. The condition may come back in some people.

People with ongoing vasculitis should be checked for necrotizing vasculitis.

Possible Complications

Complications may include:

Lasting damage to the blood vessels or skin with scarring

Inflamed blood vessels affecting the internal organs

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your provider if you have symptoms of hypersensitivity vasculitis.

Prevention

DO NOT take medicines which have caused an allergic reaction in the past.

Version Info

Last reviewed on 4/28/2015

Gordon A. Starkebaum, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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